# Use of drones in PVP. Orbits do not match optimal ranges

**URL:** <https://forums.eveonline.com/t/use-of-drones-in-pvp-orbits-do-not-match-optimal-ranges/498672>\
**Category:** PvP Ships & Modules\
**Tags:** pvp\
**Created:** [October 4, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/use-of-drones-in-pvp-orbits-do-not-match-optimal-ranges/498672 "2025-10-04T00:33:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ace\_Lonewolf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/ace_lonewolf/32/475596_2.png) [@Ace\_Lonewolf](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Ace_Lonewolf)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/use-of-drones-in-pvp-orbits-do-not-match-optimal-ranges/498672/1 "2025-10-04T00:33:53Z")

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Why do drones not orbit their intended target at a range close to their optimal range.

You got heavy drones like the Praetor with a 6km optimal range trying to orbit targets at less than 2km where due to their tracking speeds they miss far more often than they should.

As a default drones should try to orbit at or near their optimal ranges to make the most of available tracking speed.

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**Author:** ![Eloken\_Toralen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/eloken_toralen/32/401714_2.png) [@Eloken\_Toralen](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Eloken_Toralen)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/use-of-drones-in-pvp-orbits-do-not-match-optimal-ranges/498672/2 "2025-10-04T01:25:20Z")

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Really good question. When I started the game over a decade ago I was told that the drone orbit range what always the same and unless the drone was a sentry drone, always use omnidirectional links with a tracking script and ignore low slot tracking enhancers.

I never thought to ask “Hey CCP, why can’t the drones orbit at the optimal instead of a hard coded value” which is a fair question considering how many nerfs there have been during that time.

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**Author:** ![FlyingDisk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/flyingdisk/32/473076_2.png) [@FlyingDisk](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/FlyingDisk)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/use-of-drones-in-pvp-orbits-do-not-match-optimal-ranges/498672/3 "2025-10-05T18:37:23Z")

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Because Drones are stupid.

Drones that aren’t stupid are rogue drones.

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**Author:** ![Tiddle\_Jr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/tiddle_jr/32/469145_2.png) [@Tiddle\_Jr](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Tiddle_Jr)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 4:51am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/use-of-drones-in-pvp-orbits-do-not-match-optimal-ranges/498672/4 "2025-10-24T04:51:35Z")

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Cause they used mwd, and you should check their orbital and angular velocity that transverse on their tracking speed and volley speed etc. So they do miss targets respectively.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/original/3X/4/1/41ec4921cbaca7a6f9ea556e7cc20018461eae5e.png) [@system](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 4:52am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/use-of-drones-in-pvp-orbits-do-not-match-optimal-ranges/498672/5 "2026-01-22T04:52:04Z")

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